PUSH, Disney's talking trashcan, no longer in parks

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Feb 9, 2014 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM
It looks like PUSH, the talking trashcan at Walt Disney World, is actually gone. For the past couple of weeks, the Disney community has discussed the rumor that PUSH may be going away for good on Saturday, February 8. Distressed fans took to Twitter, Facebook and message boards like the DISboards voicing their displeasure in the change. On February 7, an article in the Orlando Sentinel quoted a Disney spokesperson who said there was "nothing to" the rumors and that PUSH "isn't going anywhere." Now, a post on twitter by easywdw claims that Disney has in fact removed PUSH from the Magic Kingdom.

The post shows what appears to be a screenshot from Disney's internal cast member website that says, "We will no longer have a talking trashcan performing act at Walt Disney World Resort effective Sunday February 9." It advises cast members to instead promote the Incredibles' Super Dance Party in Tomorrowland and says that "the contract for the talking trashcan performing act has expired." It also says there are no immediate plans for a similar performance.

Update 2/10/14: According to the Orlando Sentinel, the contract between Disney and the man behind PUSH expired this weekend and attempted negotiations failed. Disney did not discuss why the contract was not extended.

When asked why Disney had originally said there were no plans for PUSH to leave, spokeswoman Andrea Finger said, "While our contract discussions are confidential, there was additional communication since Friday and we were unable to reach agreement to extend the contract."

The Sentinel article has been edited to add the following information from Daniel Deutsch, the inventor of PUSH and co-owner of Real Simple Ideas (the Orlando product-development company that owns PUSH and employs PUSH's operator):

Deutsch said the contract contained "some abiguity to the verbiage as to what they owned and what I owned." He says he has sent a proposal to Disney but hasn't yet heard back. He also said, "As far as I'm concerned, I would love to have PUSH remain and continue entertaining guests."

He didn't mention how much Real Simple Ideas was paid for PUSH, but that the trashcan was to perform daily seven times per day.